John's Next Step

The second term, my first, ended last week. It was a time of getting use to the school and the school getting use to me. Last week I was able to spend time with some of the kids in the library on Monday and Wednesday. Tuesday was kite flying and outdoor games. Thursday I needed to stay home and on Fridays we had a teacher’s outing at a beach. The week was good. Tuesday was nice seeing the kids with kites – most were made at home, although some purchased. A good use was made of those ubiquitous plastic bags that come in various colors around Grenville. I had never seen this style of kite, but they fly pretty well in light wind. I’m told this is kite flying season and I’ve seen several aloft over the weekend. Next year I might try to make my favorite kite, a delta. I’ll need to get bamboo split and cured in the mean time. Ready for take off Launch! A big field for kite flying OK - who wants to play cricket? Batter up Follow through on a hit ...

With elections, celebrations, and Peace Corps meetings I didn’t do much work on my primary project this week. Next week is the last week of term. Tuesday will be kite flying and Thursday will be the last day of the term. I might have some time with the students as the teachers are working on the final reports – fingers crossed. In addition to their primary project volunteers often work on secondary projects. These typically marry the interests and abilities of the volunteer with the needs and desires of the community. My approach to secondary projects is get to know the people and the place first – paying attention to what is needed and community interests. In Ghana I worked on a computer lab and library for the school as well as some agriculture projects to improve family nutrition. The government is building a new school for my community that should be ready next school year. Therefore, I’m not focused on much related to the current facilities. As a lifetime gardener –...

This week has been a pretty good week for teaching – only one day off school – for the national sports day. Next week I’ll be missing two days of school – one for elections and one for a Peace Corps Meeting. It seems every Peace Corps meeting conflicts with something going on. This time I will miss the Lenten Retreat for the teachers, as we are in a Catholic School. Friday afternoon this week was mock elections and the students were happy to show that they voted. Voting complete with the ink on the finger to show that they voted Don't touch the camera There has been some adjustments in when I’m working with the kids. I now work with some 4th and 5th grade students on Monday and Tuesday and I’m in class with the 1st through 3rd grade students on Wednesday and Thursday. I still have library hours Monday through Thursday but as we get to the end of the term the teachers are trying to pack in the lessons so students have been sparse at library. Students working ...

This week I wanted to talk about budgeting – but I first want to acknowledge that last week was Peace Corps week. J.F. Kennedy established the Peace Corps on March 1, 1961. It was a time when our leaders recognized the importance of helping others and the idea that one person can significantly contribute to world peace and friendship. These ideas live on in the Peace Corps – in the volunteers serving around the world and with the returned volunteers who have forever changed the lives of others and so have had their live forever changed. I believe all people are created equal – and all deserve a fair shot at living to their potential. Peace Corps is just one small way – everyone can do their part – everyone needs to do their part to make the world a better place by supporting others. We have way way to much greed and selfishness that wastes our planet’s most important resource – human potential – in America and around the world. (We of course also waste most of our planet’s ot...